I was a little nervous. It’s been almost two years since my last speaking opportunity. And I find that when I haven’t used a gift or done something I really like to do, I begin doubting that I ever did it very well. So, there I was sitting in a room full of sweet women who had come for fellowship with one another but also to hear wisdom and inspiration from the speaker–me.
I had prayed for God to anoint the message. I had experienced His Spirit crafting the lesson the week before, and I knew there was a word for somebody in that small audience. Yet as I looked around the room of women that morning I wondered if my message would be relevant. Most were older. Would this message about following the call of God be too late for them to hear? Where were the teenagers who had been invited? Yet part of the message was about never being too old to be used by God.
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| In honor of the PVBC Red Shoe Club |
As these thoughts ran circles in my mind my eyes caught a glimpse of something on the wall across the room. The large wooden plaque hung above the windows of the fellowship hall quietly waiting for me to find them. They were a message for me that day: “We live by faith not by sight” (2Corinthians 5:7). God whispered the words deep into my spirit. And I was reminded not to trust my eyes. I had to trust God.
The women were very gracious after I spoke. Their kind words were sweet confirmation to my questioning heart.
I felt we had been on a short 40 minute journey together (10 minutes over my allotted time!). Many of their expressions during my presentation told me their hearts were being touched, but I cannot deny that perhaps the person most blessed and touched by those 40 minutes was me. I loved every minute of it. It felt good to once again step into my calling or at least one aspect of it.
The next morning as I journalled my thanks for the opportunity to do something I love to do, Malachi 3:8, the verse above, came to mind so I turned to it in my Bible and began writing it down. As I wrote, it became clear that this scripture is not only about tithing; it is about obedience. It’s the promise of obedience.
God has been talking to me about obedience a lot lately. He likes it. It’s necessary for us to be able to receive the blessings He has to give.
There’s probably a whole book waiting to be written on that topic! But for today, I want to encourage you to be aware of obeying even the seemingly least significant urge of God even when our eyes cannot see why. When we live this way we are promised buckets of blessings from the storehouses of heaven. I’d rather have heaven’s riches than the earth’s temporal treasures any day.
Has God been tugging on your sleeve about a needed change or a step of faith? Don’t trust your eyes.
Much grace,
andy
Ps. Thank you to the wonderful women of Pine Valley Baptist Church. You will always have a special place in my heart.
